Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-12-24
comes and she finds what a brothers
kindness has brought herr

"That is an ugly twist in the tree
there. Mr.. Delano said that was the
reason no one weuld buy it. But do
you know / thought, in minute,
that we would have it down in Aun-
tie Burlle's room, and that we would
put this bare side close to the wall,
and that crook would just fit around
the bend in her chimney"
And so my mission had really com
menced, and / began to feel that my
lily shapen form was worth enduring,
even though it had been given me
only to fit around chimney.
Such talks as mother and son had
over me in that deserted room Such
planning to make much out of little,
and little from nothing! 1t really
made my heart ache, and longed to
be something more than a tree
something human, that | might aid
these loving workers. Sometimes
my branches would stir with emo
ton. But they never mistrusted it.
The mothers eyes grew brighter, as,
wrapped in shawl, she sat beside
me sewing after little Nellie had fall
len asleep. Her face would some
times wear younger look, as though
she were living over again her girl
hoods days. And once when she
had finished cloth doll and dressed
it in some garments she had made,
she smiled and | heard her singing
softly some old fashioned air.
won't Nellie be happy,mother?"
Tim kept saying as he worked away
at a cradle he was shaping for the
wonderful doll.
"Indeed she will and so will you
and !"
1t would be impossible for me to
tell you the gladness that came to
these people from the veriest trife.
Auntie Burke entered into the
scheme as heartily as did Tim and
his mother; and, though poor her.
self, she frightened her room to
make ready for the coming festival,
and gave of her small store most
willingly.
"Bless child, the little sufferer that
she is! 1t would be pity if a great
strong woman like me couldn't do a
bit to make her Christmas glad!"
She it was who hunted up the pref
ty print for the dolls dress. An I'M
used curtain of hers made the neat
clothing for the bed Tim whitfield
out, and her self-denial furnished
corn enough to decorate my branch
eS.
Mr.. DelanO was not forgetful of his
promise to the boy, and the result
was paper of candy, nuts and fancy
crackers, few wax candles and a
toy or two that in Tins eyes were
beautiful beyond expression. Then,
as though to add to their enjoyment,
Tim came bounding home one night
with the wonderful news that his
weekly wages had been raised twen-
ty-five cents, and, it being Christmas
time, he had been paid for the week
just ended.
ooh, Mamma, may 1 spend just
this? You know we have got along
and we can just little longer"
The words eyes, my boy" were
hardly spoken, when the lad seized
his cap and rushed off to "five cent
store" where he was soon busily en-
gagged looking over the holiday goods
displayed upon its counters. So
much money must be used judicious-
ly, and full hour passed before he
returned and placed in his mothers
lap toy dish-pan, a box of cooking
utensils, slate, a bright apron and a
child's goblet. There were tears in
the mothers eyes that night as she
slowed away these treasures in the
room where l was watching and lis
tening, and as she bent over her boy
and kissed him, l heard her say:
"You are getting so like papa,
Tim !"
And he threw both arms about
her and replied: 81 am going to be
Just like him one of these days, little
mother, and then you shan't work OF
know anything about care or troubleD
X
The afternoon of the day before
Christmas found all the preparations
complete. The principal work was
accomplished the evening before, sc
as not to arouse Nellie's curiosity
but Tim had so many alterations tC
make that he kept busy long after
the others declared the work com
plete.
Time slipped on until Tins step al